Senator Huntley Applauds Passage of Increased School Aid in 2012-2013 State Budget

(Albany, NY) Senator Shirley L. Huntley (D-Jamaica) announced that with passage of the 2012-2013 State Budget, schools throughout New York State will received much needed increased funding during the next fiscal year.

A $34 million investment for NY Works projects to upgrade and repair nine parks, two historic sites and one ski facility in the Hudson Valley was announced by the Governor's office today.

New York Works is designed to reinvent state economic development with innovative new strategy that will put New Yorkers back to work rebuilding the state's infrastructure. The Task Force will help create tens of thousands of jobs by coordinating comprehensive capital plans, overseeing investment in infrastructure projects, and accelerating hundreds of critical projects across the state.

Senator Patrick M. Gallivan hailed the 2012 state budget today as lawmakers approved the spending plan ahead of the April 1st deadline, marking the second consecutive year New York State will enact an on-time budget.

“Passing a second on-time budget in as many years is indicative of the larger progress we’ve seen lately in Albany. Just as late budgets were once a symbol of dysfunction, on-time budgets are symbolic of continued progress,” the Senator said. “Even more important than passing an on-time budget, is that we passed a fiscally responsible budget that respects New York’s taxpayers and keeps the State moving forward.”

Speaking with Grant Reeher on WRVO's The Campbell Conversations just before the budget passed, State Senator John DeFrancisco describes the budget process and discusses whether or not it has improved in recent years. Seantor DeFrancisco also discusses political redistricting and whether a constitutional amendment will fundamentally change the process. To hear the Senator's interview, click here.

An additional and accelerated $217,860,381 investment for 38 NY Works projects that will repair 287 miles of roads and 23 bridges in the Hudson Valley and create thousands of jobs have been announced by the Governor's Office. For the transportation component of NY Works, the Department of Transportation (DOT) reviewed its Capital Program and identified those projects, which can be accelerated by utilizing either the conventional design-bid-build project delivery mechanism or the newly-enacted design-build project delivery method.

New York State Senator Kenneth P. LaValle (R,C,I – Port Jefferson) said today that the the New York State Senate completed early passage of the state budget late last week. LaValle said the new budget reduces state spending, does not raise taxes and creates new private sector jobs. The state’s new fiscal year began April 1st.

“Since last year we have closed $13 billion in deficits --$10 billion last year and $3 billion this year -- without raising taxes and fees,” Senator LaValle said. “State government is living within the same two percent spending cap as local governments and school districts and we are doing it by controlling and reigning-in spending and reducing the size of government.”

For the second consecutive year, the New York State Senate has completed an early passage of the state budget. The 2012-13 state budget achieves the Senate Republicans’ goals of reducing state spending, not raising taxes and creating new private sector jobs. The new state fiscal year begins April 1st.

For the second consecutive year, the New York State Senate has completed an early passage of the state budget. The 2012-13 state budget achieves the Senate Republicans’ goals of reducing state spending, not raising taxes and creating new private sector jobs. The new state fiscal year begins April 1st.“The Senate has worked together with the Governor and Assembly to once again pass an early state budget that reduces overall spending, does not increase any taxes or fees, includes mandate relief measures to ease the burden on property taxpayers and makes important investments to create thousands of jobs across the state,” Senate Majority Leader Dean G. Skelos said.

For the second consecutive year, the New York State Senate has completed an early passage of the state budget. The 2012-13 state budget achieves the Senate Republicans’ goals of reducing state spending, not raising taxes and creating new private sector jobs. The new state fiscal year begins April 1st.

For the second consecutive year, the New York State Senate has completed an early passage of the state budget. The 2012-13 state budget achieves the Senate Republicans’ goals of reducing state spending, not raising taxes and creating new private sector jobs. The new state fiscal year begins April 1st.

You should know that the Office of the New York State Governor is located on the Second Floor of the Capital Building in Albany. Therefore, anything and everything that has to do with the Governor is referred to as coming “from the Second Floor.”

You should also know that there were seven pieces of legislation dealing with the Budget. Independently, each piece of legislation was supposed to be discussed and approved by the majority of the Senators before they could be sent to the Governor to sign into law.

The New York State Legislature has completed passage of an on-time budget for the second year in a row. Though it was another challenging budget, requiring the closure of a $3.5 billion deficit, we were able to balance the budget without tax increases or fiscal gimmickry. In addition, overall spending was reduced for the second straight year, the frist time this has happened in at least three decades.

For the second consecutive year, the New York State Senate has completed an early passage of the state budget. The 2012-13 state budget achieves the Senate Republicans’ goals of reducing state spending, not raising taxes and creating new private sector jobs. The new state fiscal year begins April 1st.